How the city sits solitary, that was full of people! She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!
Shlomo ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Pelishtim, and to the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Shlomo all the days of his life.
Par`oh-Nekho put him in bonds at Rivlah in the land of Chamat, that he might not reign in Yerushalayim; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
Yehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Par`oh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the mitzvah of Par`oh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Par`oh-Nekho.
There have been mighty kings also over Yerushalayim, who have ruled over all [the country] beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.
It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
Then shall you say in your heart, Who has conceived these for me, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering back and forth? and who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes shalom, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Tziyon, Your God reigns!
Don't be afraid; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be confounded; for you shall not be disappointed: for you shall forget the shame of your youth; and the reproach of your widowhood shall you remember no more.
For thus says the LORD, Sing with gladness for Ya`akov, and shout for the chief of the nations: publish you, praise you, and say, the LORD, save your people, the remnant of Yisra'el.
Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shafan swore to them and to their men, saying, Don't be afraid to serve the Kasdim: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Bavel, and it shall be well with you.
and said to Yirmeyahu the prophet, Let, we pray you, our supplication be presented before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, even for all this remnant; for we are left but a few of many, as your eyes do see us:
Thus says the LORD of Armies, the God of Yisra'el: You have seen all the evil that I have brought on Yerushalayim, and on all the cities of Yehudah; and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwells therein,
Therefore my wrath and my anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Yehudah and in the streets of Yerushalayim; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day.
I called for my lovers, [but] they deceived me: My Kohanim and my elders gave up the spirit in the city, While they sought them food to refresh their souls.
How has the Lord covered the daughter of Tziyon with a cloud in his anger! He has cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Yisra'el, And hasn't remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
The elders of the daughter of Tziyon sit on the ground, they keep silence; They have cast up dust on their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: The virgins of Yerushalayim hang down their heads to the ground.
Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit on the ground, and shall tremble every moment, and be astonished at you.
Son of man, because Tzor has said against Yerushalayim, Aha, she is broken: the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me; I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste:
This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, *I am, and there is none besides me.* How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss, and shake their fists.
However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.'